Sheet-delivery mechanism.



B. E. UPI-IAM.

SHEET DELIVERY MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED NoV.14.1911.

Patented Jan. 19,1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

B. P.: UPHAM SHEET DELIVERY MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. f4, 1911.

1,125,218., 'Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

B. P. UPHAM.

vSHEET DELIVERY MEGHANISM.

APPLIGATION FILED NOV. 14 1911. I

Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

maw

flbtomeqq/ 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BURT F. UPHAM, OICHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO SOUTHGATE MACHINERY COMPANY, I BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS; A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

` SHEET-DELIVERY MECHNISM.

Bpecication of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 19, 1915.

.Application med November 14, 1911. Serial No. 660.224.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Bum' F. UrHAM, of Edgewater, Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet- Delivery Mechanisms; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form lo part of this speclfication.

This invention is a novel improvement in sheet delivery apparatus,`and is especially designed and adapted for use with rotary sheet printing presses, but may be used in connection with other. machines operating upon sheets of paper or the like.

One of the prlncipal objects of the invention is to enable alternate sheets coming from the press to be deposited uponv different receiving tables, or sheet piling trucks; in other words one sheet to be dropped upon one receiving table or truck, and the next upontheother table or truck. In this way the sheets can be delivered very rapidly yet each sheet will have the time ordinarily required for delivering two sheets to settle upon its receiving table, and therefore the ink on each sheet will have that much more time to set before another sheet is deposited upon the pile.

The invention in brief comprises means for receiving sheets from a printing press, or other machine, and successively transferring them onto some one of an endless series of carriers; each carrier preferably consists of a set of parallel tapes connected to adjacent endless chains, which run in parallel planes and are preferably traveled yat a surface sneed equal to that of the press cylinders. The sheet carriers are attached to th'se vchains at suitable distances apart, and the chainsare, so arranged and timed that each carrier will receive a sheet at one point, and carry such sheet forward to and over the'receiving table or point of deposit; and when the sheet arrives at such point it is arrested by devices or grippers which engage the tail end of the sheet. These tail grippers are\preferably arranged to move on an are of a circle and to enfga e the sheet when at the highest point o te arc, and then rock forward in the direction of travel of the carrier a short distance suffiept 1 9 cause the tail and of ,the Sheet held by auch guppen to be' slightly low',

ered, so that the next following sheet carrier may pass above and over the sheet being held by such grippers; When the carrier supporting the sheet engaged by the grippers has'moved on from beneath such sheet the grippers release the sheet, which then drops onto the receiving table; and the grlppers return to o sitlon to engage another sheet brought Y orward by a carrier.

In the preferred form of the invention two delivery tables are provided arranged end to end, and the endless tapes are arranged to move the sheet carriers successively over both tables; and two sets of grrppers are provided respectively adapted to engage the tail ends of the sheets, as they are brought forward to and over the respective tables, and to hold such sheets until the sheet carriers have passed from beneath top'plan vlevv` of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view ofv one of the sheet gripping devices showing it in sheet holding position in full lines, and in sheet taking position in dotted lines.` Fig. 4 is a similar view showing one set of sheet holding grippers in retracted position in full lines, and in sheety taking position in dotted lines. Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged detail views of the sheet carrier,

In said drawings 1 designates a transfer reel which is 'adapted to receive sheets indicated at S coming from a press or other suitable machine, not shown. This transfer reel 1 is provided with grippers 1l which are suitably operated so as to release the sheet at the proper oint of revolution of the reel and allow he sheet to pass over suitably arranged bridge or guide fingers 2 onto the sheet carrier.

,Each sheet barrier preferably comprises a number of tapes 39 attached to metal lqgpg 3f attached to the links ,of opposite endless chains 3, see Figs. 5 and 6, which chains may be of any suitable construction, Such a set of tapes constitutes a very light pliable carrier, which can easily traverse or follow the path of the chain 3. The opposite chains 3 are arranged in parallel vertical planes and have an upper horizonrtal run extending from sprocket gears 3d on stub shafts 3e adjacent the reel 1 to and over sprocket gears 3t on studs 3h at the rear end of the machine; then down over gears 3i on studs 31; then forward to and under gears 3k on studs 3', and then up to sprocket gear 3d. rThese endless chains may be driven by means of pinion '3 on stud shafts 3e meshing withy pinions 4 on a shaft 4. @ne of the pinions 4 is shown as ,of double width and meshes with a gear lb on the shaft of reel 1. As shown there are six such sheet carriers in the series, but more or less may be used according to the length of the chain and the number of receiving tables upon which it is desired to deposit sheets.

The carriers are traveled, referably at the speed at which the sheets g are fed forward over the reel 1, and are so timed that as each sheet passes from the reel l over the fingers 2 it passes onto one of the carriers 3. The successive sheets coming from the reel 1 are delivered onto successive carriers 3 as they pass onto the upper run of the chains 3; and the sheets are carried bodily by the carriers to and over the receiving tables 'll`, 'll", two o'f which are shownarranged side by side. Such tables may be of any, ordinary or preferred construction, and may be mounted on trucks such as are customarily used in printing oices.

When the sheets have been brought over thel tables T, .'ll" by the chains each sheet is seized by its tail'end by suitable means, sets of grippers 5, 5Il being shown in the drawings, and as these are eonstructedalike the description and operation of one` will er:- plain the other; and they 'are illustrated in detail in Figs. 3 and t. 'llhe said grippersare adapted to seize the tail ends of the sheet and arrest the movement ofthe sheets while the carriers continue-to move on from beneath the sheets. The grippers are also adapted when they seize a sheet to drop a slightly below the path of travel of the carriers on the upper run ofthe chain, so that while the gripper's hold a sheet (andthe carrier which supports such sheet slips from under it) a following carrier may pass on over the arrestedsheet without rubbing or smearing the latter. `When the carrier which supports the sheet has moved entirely from beneath it the grppers release the sheet and the latter drops upon the receiving table 'll` or T. v

When the alternate sheets are deposited upon .tables T, '1" they may be simultaneously dropped thereon; and when the ma chine is operating in this manner it will be seen that each sheet hasthe time required for printing of two sheets for its delivery ontov the table, and the ink is given that much longer time to set before another sheet is depositedv thereon. Referring to Figs. 3 and d; each set of tail grippers (5, 5) comprises a set of underlying' gripping fingers 5b which are attached to a rock shaft 5? journaled in the side frames of the machine; and (zo-acting with each linger 5b is a corresponding movable finger 5c, which is mounted upon a roclr shaft 5d journaled in arms 5f attached to the shaft 5. @n the shaft 5i is mounted a double armed lever, one arm 5 of which is adapted to engage a cam-plate 5 attached to the side of the frame; and the other arm 5 of said lever is adapted to engage a camplate 51 also attached to the side of the frame. 'llhe parts are so proportioned and arranged that when shaft 5 is rocked to the right, arm 5 will engage cam 5J and be depressed, and cause shaft 5d to rock and open the grippers as lindicated in Fig. 3. And ifshaft 5*" is rocked to the left the grippers 5 will be closed against grippers 5b and cause the engagement of arm 5U and cam 5h. 4

lllach shaft 5La is provided with a toothed segment 5m which meshes with a toothed segment 6' on a stub-shaft 6 journaled in the sideof theframe; and the stub-shafts 6 are provided on their outer ends lwith crank arms 6 which are pivotally connected to a link 6b, so that both sets of grippers may be actuated simultaneously. 'llhe stubshaft 6 nearest the reel is provided with an arm 6 which engages a cam 7, so shaped as to actuatel shafts 6 and cause them through their connections to operate the' sets of tail grippers at the pm er time and cause them to seize, hold an release the sheets in the manner describedI As shown, arm 6 carries a stud or' roller en aging a cam race in the cam 7. Said cam may be journaled upon a stud attached to the side of the machine. and may bedriven by means of a pinion 7, attached to the cam, meshin with a pinion 7 on a stub-shaft 7, pinion being fast to a larger pinion 7 which meshes with an intermediate gear 72 mounted on a stud Y, and in turn meshing with a pinion 18 o n the shaft of the reel 1.

The parts are so timed that eachk sheet will be delivered from the reel 1 .onto some lltbli rae one of the carriers 3, and be moved forward i.

And

mamans travel of the carriers and drop below the plane of the upper run of the carrier, see Figs. 1 and 3, and hold the sheets while the carrier moves from beneath the sheets and the following carrier passes above the held sheet; and when the carrier passessheets on the carriers when they have been brought. over the receiving tables, and to hold the sheets until the carriers have passed from beneath the sheets, and thento release the sheets and permit them to drop upon the tables.

2. A sheet delivery apparatus comprising a' plurality of receiving tables: a series of sheet carriers moving in an endless path around the tables and adapted to pass successively over the tables; means for directing sheets onto the carriers; andgrippers adjacent each table adaptedv to engage the tail ends of the sheets when they have been brought over the receiving tables by the carriers, and to hold the sheets until the carrie-rs have passed from beneath the sheets, and then to release the sheets and permit them to drop upon the table; and means for causing the grippers to drop beneath the plane of the carriers after they seize a sheet to permit the 4following carrier to pass over the stopped sheet, substantially as described. f

3. In a sheet delivery apparatus, the combination of a receiving table; a carrier moving in an endless path around the table and adapted to carry a sheet above the table; tail grippers adapted to seize the tail of the sheet on the carrier when. it is brought over the table; a rock' shaft supporting said grippers; and means for rocking said shaft so as to cause the grippers to rise and seize the tail of the sheet. and to release the sheet when the carrier has moved from beneath same, and then to retract out of the way of an incoming sheet.

the sheet out of the path of the carrier, to

release the sheet when the carrier has moved i I from beneath same, and then to retract out yof the way of anincoming sheet.V

5. In a sheet delivery, the combination of a set of traveling carriers each `comprising a flexible platform adapted to receive and support sheets laid thereon and carry them to the point of deposit; means for seizing the tail end of a sheet lying on a carrier and arresting it at the point lof deposit; andl means for causin the seizing means to depress the tail en of the arrested sheet so that a followin .carrier may move thereover while the s eet is arrested,

6. In asheet delivery mechanism, th .combination of a series of sheet carriers each comprising a -iexible platform orgrid adaptedA to receive and 'support sheets laid thereon and carr same to the point of deposit, means for, orwarding sheets onto such carriers', and means for moving such carriers in an endless path; with 1grippers adaptedto engage the tail end of a sheet when a carrier-"has brought it to the point of deposit, hold the sheet while the carrier moves from beneath it, and then release the sheet and permit it to drop.

7. In a sheet delivery, the combination of a series of carriers each comprising a flexible platform adapted to receive and support sheets laid thereon and carry them to the 'point of deposit, means for feeding sheets onto such carriers, and means for moving the carriers in an endless Ipath; with means for seizing the tail ends of the sheets and arresting them at the point` of deposit; and means for causing the seizing means to lower the tail end of the sheet so that a following carrier may pass thereover while thesheet is arrested.

8. In a sheet delivery, thecombination of a plurality of receiving tables; a series of sheet carriers each comprising a set of tapes adapted to carry sheets laid thereon to and over the said table, and means for moving said carriers in an endless path; with means for feeding sheets onto the carriers in the direction ofv its travel; and devices adjacent each table adapted to seize'the tail of a sheet when it is brought into position over such has movedl from beneath it, and then to re-- lease the sheet and allow it to drop upjonthe table.

9. In a sheet delivery mechanism, the combination of a delivery7 table, a series of sheet carriers each comprising a fiexible platform adapted to receive and support sheets laid thereon 'and carry same to the point of deposit, means for forwarding sheets onto @Ich carriers at the upper run of their travel,

and means for moving such carriers in an endless 'path aroundsaid delivery table :with- --grippers adapted to engage the tail end of a brought it to a- 4sheet when a carrier has point above the delivery table, hold the sheet While the carrier moves from beneath y it, and then release the sheet and permit it to drop onto the table.

10. In a sheet delivery, the combination of a delivery table, a series of carriers each comprising a flexible platform adapted to receive and 'support sheets laid thereon and carry them to the delivery table, means for feeding sheets onto such carriers on the upper run thereof, and means for moving the carriers in an endless path around the delivery table; with means for seizing the tail ends of the sheets and arresting them above the delivery table; and means yfor causing the seizing means to lower the tail end of the sheet so that a following carrier may pass thereover while the sheet is varrested.

l1. In a sheet delivery, the combination of a plurality of receiving tables; a series of sheet carriers each comprising a exible platform adapted to carry sheets laid thereon to and over the said table, and means for moving said carriers in an endless path; with means for feeding .sheets onto the carriers in the direction of their travel While on "the upper part of their run; and devices adjacent each table adapted to seize'the tail of a sheet when it is broughtvinto position over such table, and holdthe sheet until the carrier has moved from beneath it, and then to release the sheet and allow it to drop upon the table, substantially as described.

12. ln a sheet delivery, the combination of a flexible carrier platform adapted toreceive and support a sheet laid thereupon and carry it to the point of deposit, and means for moving said platform bodily to and from the sheet receiving point; with means for seizing the tail endof the sheet lying on the platform and arresting and holding the sheet at the point of deposit While the platform moves from beneath the sheet, and then releasing the sheet, substantially as described. 1

13. In a sheet delivery, the combination of a series of Hexible carrier platforms adapted to receive and support sheets laid thereupon and carry them to the point of deposit, and means for moving said platforms to and from the sheet receiving point; with means for seizingthe tail ends of the sheets lying on the platforms and arresting and holding the sheets at the point of dei posit While the platforms move from beneath the sheets, and then releasing the sheets, substantially as described.

14C. In a sheet delivery, vthe combination of a sheet feeding means, a traveling flexible platform adapted to have sheets laid there- Maaate upon by such feeding means and to carry such sheets bodily to the point of deposit; means for seizing the tail end of the sheet lying on such platform and arresting it at the point of deposit While the platform moves from beneath the sheet; and means for causing the seizing means to release the sheet When the platform has moved from beneath the sheet.

15. ln a sheet delivery, the combination of a 'platform moving in. an endless path and adapted to receive and support a sheet laid thereupon and carry it to the point of deposit, and means for moving said platform bodily to and from the sheet receiving point; with means for delivering vsheets upon the platform in the direction of its movement and means for arresting and holding the sheet lying on the platform by its tail end 'atthe point of deposit While the platform moves from beneath the sheet, and then releasing the sheet, substantially as described.

1G. lin a sheet delivery, the combination of a series' of platforms moving in an endless path and adapted to receive and support sheets laid thereupon and carry them to the point of deposit, and means for moving said platforms to and from the sheet receiving point; with means for delivering sheets onto said platforms in the direction of their movement as they move onto the upper run of their path; and means for seizing the tail ends of the sheets lying on the platforms and arresting and holding the sheets at the point of deposit while the platforms move from beneath the sheets, and then releasing the sheets, substantially as described.

17. lln a sheet delivery, the' combination of a set of traveling platforms moving in an endless path and each adapted to receive and support a sheet laid thereon and carry same to the point of deposit; means. for delivering sheets onto said platforms in the direction of their movement as they move onto the upper run of their path; and means for seizing the tail end of a sheet lying on a platform and arresting it at the point of deposit, and means for causing the seizing means to depress the tail end of the arrested sheet so that a following platform may move thereover While the sheet is arrested.

ln testimony that ll claim the foregoing as my own, li affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIS G. Yonne, R. L. BEHRENS. 

